This page needs to be proofread.

goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. [1] [2] [3] 21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. 22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. [4]
23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24 He that hateth disguiseth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; [5] 25 When he speaketh kindly, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. [6] 26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be revealed before the whole congregation. [7]
27 Whoever diggeth a pit shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

CHAP. 27.


Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. [8]
2 Let another man praise thee, and not thy own mouth; a stranger, and not thy own lips.
3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than both. [9] 4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? [10] [11]
5 Open rebuke is better than secret love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. [12]
7 The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. [13]
8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel. [14] 10 Thy own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.
12 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for adulteress.
14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. 16 Whoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which betrayeth itself .
17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
18 He that keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit of it: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
19 As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. [15]
21 As the refining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.
22 Though thou shouldest crush a fool in a mortar among grain with a pestle, yet his foolishness will not depart from him.
23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. [16] 24 For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? [17] [18] 25 The plant appeareth, and the tender grass showeth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. 26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. 27 And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for maintenance for thy maidens. [19]

CHAP. 28.


The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
2 For the transgression of a land many are its princes: but by a man of understanding and knowledge its state shall be prolonged. [20]
3 A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food. [21]
4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
5 Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things .
6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he is rich.
7 He who keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of gluttonous men shameth his father. [22]
8 He that by interest and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor. [23]
9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
10 Whoever causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.

  1. Where no...: Heb. Without wood
  2. talebearer: or, whisperer
  3. ceaseth: Heb. is silent
  4. innermost...: Heb. chambers
  5. dissembleth: or, is known
  6. speaketh...: Heb. maketh his voice gracious
  7. by...: or, in secret
  8. to...: Heb. to morrow day
  9. heavy: Heb. heaviness
  10. Wrath...: Heb. Wrath is cruelty, and anger an overflowing
  11. envy: or, jealousy?
  12. deceitful: or, earnest, or, frequent
  13. loatheth: Heb. treadeth under foot
  14. by...: Heb. from the counsel of the soul
  15. never: Heb. not
  16. look...: Heb. set thy heart
  17. riches: Heb. strength
  18. to...: Heb. to generation and generation?
  19. maintenance: Heb. life
  20. by...: or, by men of understanding and wisdom shall they likewise be prolonged
  21. which...: Heb. without food
  22. is a companion...: or, feedeth gluttons
  23. unjust...: Heb. by increase